"The Morning After"
By: Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
Ithea Tass
NPC: Stev and Coryl
Location: New Plouton
Date: Praeda 19, 4ABY

Ithea slipped from the bed and put her clothes on. She was sore but still felt wonderful, exhilarated and alive. She looked in the mirror and frowned; her hip length hair was a snarled mass. She tied it up at the back of her head and turned to look at the bed.

In the other room, Shiv slept soundly with her body pressed against Coryl's. Shortly after her short comm conversation with Kaysa, she'd told him she'd untie him if he promised not to try to do anything. He agreed and she curled up with him on the bed. He still seemed upset that nothing had happened, so she'd used her hands to pleasure him. He offered her the same, but she refused. They'd then curled up together and fallen asleep. She hadn't slept as well as she'd liked, her desires boiling over with her need for some sort of satisfaction. She'd told herself that she wouldn't let Coryl fuck her, and she'd kept to that. And, now she was the only one suffering from her denial. Hopefully Kaysa would have some time for her later.

Back in the other room, Stev rolled over as he sensed movement. He opened his eyes and saw Ithea up and moving around. "You leaving already?"

"I have things to attend to," she said with a soft smile. "Do you not have work?" She finished buttoning her top as she approached the bed and sat down.

"I work at night," Stev said. "I had a day off yesterday, so Coryl and I were out. So, what's so important to get you out of bed at this hideous hour? Especially after all we did last night."

Ithea laughed. "I always rise at this time. I do not feel tired, more...invigorated." She put a hand to his cheek. "And I will not forget it."

"So you're going to go off and vanish into the sunrise and I'll never see you again?" He laughed softly. "I hope it was a good night for you. And, if you ever decide you want a little spice or a roll through the sheets, you know where to find me."

"Am I missing some significant thing I should do? I am not from your world and I do not know your customs." He could tell she was truly puzzled. "I did not say you would not see me again."

"Oh," he said with a laugh as he slid closer to her. "Just the way you said you'd never forget what happened...usually when someone says that, it's an indication that it won't be happening anymore. If you'd still like to see me, that would be great. We can go out for more dancing."

"I will have Shiv give you the number where you can reach me. I am not sure how that all works yet." She leaned down and kissed him softly.

"That sounds good to me," he said. "It was a very nice night. I hope it was...satisfying for you too."

Ithea grinned from ear to ear. "Oh, I learned so much. I must thank you for the instruction and the pleasure. Now, I must find my friend." She got off the bed and headed for the other bedroom. She opened the door and smiled to see the couple sleeping close to one another.

It took a few minutes, but finally the light streaming from the open door pulled Shiv from her sleep. She sat up slightly and frowned. "Ithea? What's the matter?"

"I thought you might wish to return to Kaysa," Ithea said softly. "I did not plan for us to stay all night. My apologies."

"It's alright," Shiv said as she climbed out of the bed and looked for her dress. "Zale and Kaysa were pretty frazzled after the Rennor thing, so it was probably just as well I stayed here." She finally found her dress tucked under the edge of the bed and pulled it out. She grabbed her boots and started out into the other room with Ithea and started dressing. "So, it sounded like you had a rather blissful night with Stev."

"I have no complaints," she said with a very big grin. "Can you leave my number here for Stev? Do I have a number?"

Shiv frowned. "I don't know," she said. "We can check. I know how to get ahold of Coryl later. If nothing I can give him my comlink number, and I can get messages to you until we have your number. So now you know what Kaysa and I make such a big deal about? And, you look like you're in agreement with us now."

Ithea grinned mischievously. "It has its merits. Shall we go? Or...is that wrong?" Ithea was looking to Shiv for guidance in this uncertain area.

Shiv giggled. "I think it's great," she said. "Now, let's get out of here before Stev decides he hasn't had enough of you and pulls you back into his bed. And, I know Coryl would really like to convince me to let him have his way with me. Let's go."

Ithea grinned in a conspiratorial manner and led the way. Once they were clear of the apartment, Ithea looked at Shiv. "I should go home. I have no desire to continue last night's...date." She looked uncertainly at Shiv. "I hope that Kaysa will understand."

Shiv raised an eyebrow. "Not at all," she asked. "No more Zale? Okay. I'll let her know. We will see you again, right?"

"I didn't say not at all, just not today. As for seeing me again, I hope that we are friends." The two hailed a hovercab as Ithea was speaking.

"Definitely friends," Shiv said with a grin. "And, I think the date last night officially ended when you went home with Stev and Zale had to take care of other things. I think it's okay though. Now that you've got all sorts of sexual experience, you can really put the moves on him now if you want."

Ithea blushed. "I wouldn't call one night all sorts of experience. But, I am much more comfortable with the idea." She had slaves she could practice on as well. The thought made her smile; it was a small evil grin.

A cab pulled up and they climbed inside. Shiv looked at the pair of boots still in her hand and wondered why she carried the things more often than she wore them. With a shrug, she dropped them onto the floor of the cab. Once they'd given the driver an address, Shiv turned back to Ithea. "So does it feel different? Being all womanly and sexified?"

Ithea smiled. "Actually yes, I think in some ways, I feel more free, more aware of things around me." She stretched. "Though a nap might be in order this afternoon."

Shiv giggled. "Well, you earned one after last night," she said. "So, are you gonna talk to the people at Merrick's production company soon? About that job?"

"Shouldn't I meet Merrick first? If not, how do I go to get this job? This is new to me. I am used to people working for me." Ithea met Shiv's gaze with a totally honest look.

"Well, Merrick doesn't do the hiring," Shiv said. "The people in his company do. You met him the night you met Zale at the Tower, so all you gotta do is tell him you're a friend of Merrick's and they'll talk to you about a job. Kaysa and I already mentioned it to him, so he knows about it and he'll support you."

"Okay, I will do that soon. Today, I think I will get things for my apartment and rest up." She grinned. "I hope that Kaysa and Zale are okay." Ithea had sensed that things had not gone as they had all planned in more than one way.

Shiv nodded. "Yeah," she said. "Me too. I'll find out how things are going, and then I can let you know. I'm sure they're fine. Just something with Kaysa's ex-fiancé."

Ithea nodded as the cab came to a stop outside her building. "I will see you soon?" She handed the driver a credit slip.

"Definitely," Shiv said as she slipped out of the cab behind Ithea. "I'm sure Kaysa will have lots of questions for you too. If you need it, get some rest. After last night, you've earned it."

Ithea grinned. "First a massage, then rest." She winked at Shiv. "I have realized I have not been getting full value from my slaves."

Shiv giggled. "Now you have to make up for all the time you've missed with them. I'll see you later, Ithea."

Ithea stopped Shiv and kissed her on the cheek. She looked deeply into Shiv's eyes. "Thank you," she whispered and then smiled. She turned and headed into the building, light of step and heart.

Shiv watched Ithea disappear up into her apartment building, and then with a smile turned off toward the Yesdol district where Merrick's apartment lay.

Ithea entered her apartment and met the questioning gaze of Tarkin's slave. "I will have a report for you after I have bathed." She did not wait for his knowing nod. "Zargon, you will attend me." She held up a hand to Tessa. "Just Zargon." The two entered the bedroom leaving the other two puzzled.

---

"Shattered Peace, Part 1"
by Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr
and Maeren Shivral
Location: Yesdol District, New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Praeda 19, 4ABY

***

As Zale stepped quietly back toward the bedroom, he looked over the contents of the tray in his hands. There was enough food there for both of them to survive all day, but he and Kaysa had never been awake at an actual breakfast time so that he had no idea what she liked to eat in the morning. He smiled at the thought of what she liked to eat in the early early morning, and his body still tingled from it.

He slipped through the doorway and was thankful that Kaysa was still asleep. He moved silently to her side of the bed and sat -- as quietly as he could without upsetting the contents of his tray -- next to her. "Kaysa," he whispered. "It's time to wake up." He smiled again as he could see the vapours from the steaming cups of kaffe drifting toward her nose. "I think I've outdone myself this time. Wake up, Kaysa."

With a gentle moan, Kaysa shifted in bed, her nose sniffing at the familiar aroma that filled the air around her. She opened her eyes for a moment and saw the blurred image of Zale hovering over. She grumbled and closed her eyes again, but the distinct, fragrant smell continued to bombard her senses, luring her from her reverie. Kaysa sighed deeply as she stretched out her arms and yawned. "What do you want, Zale," she muttered unintelligibly. As her eyes finally opened fully, her face already twisting into a scowl after having been roused, she saw the steaming tray of food being held out towards her. With a gasp, Kaysa sat up in bed and stared at Zale in astonishment. "Wh-What is this? Zale... What the hell are you doing?"

Zale glanced down at the food and then back up to Kaysa. With a sigh, he shook his head. "Well, I thought it was fairly obvious it was breakfast. I have made it and decided to bring it here to you rather than dragging you to the kitchen."

"You...you made me breakfast?" Kaysa looked down at the food laid out neatly in the tray, so much food, in fact, that she was surprised half of it wasn't spilling over the edges. She smiled gently as she spotted the flower laid across one side of the tray and cursed herself for her initial ungrateful reaction. "Zale..." Kaysa laughed softly and ran her hand across his cheek. "You're trying to woo me, aren't you?"

Zale grinned. "I wouldn't do something like that," he said with a laugh. "Is it working?"

Kaysa smiled elusively as she gazed at Zale, then shifted her eyes to the tray without a reply. "When did you get up? I didn't know you could cook." Kaysa picked up the fork and sampled the steaming eggs at the centre. As she pushed the food around in her mouth, she moaned gently and gave an approving smile. "And apparently, you really can."

"The recipe is from Thanatos," he said, indicating the eggs. "And, I've dabbled with cooking. I can make a few things really well, and have to use the autochef for the rest. I've been up for nearly an hour or so. I had to take care of a couple business matters, and then I made you your morning feast."

"Well...are you hungry?" Kaysa shifted aside and lifted the covers back for Zale. "What kind of business? Was it anything I'd be interested in?"

After removing his robe, Zale slid under the covers with Kaysa and plucked one of the ripe berries from the side of the tray and popped it into his mouth. "First it was a shipment that needs to get to one of the settlements on the other side of the planet. One of my pilots was having cold feet about getting through the Imperial checkpoints. He's straightened out now. The other was one of the acquisition of a nightclub in Arcadia. From there, I should have some fairly good watchpoints for the Imperials. At least I hope so."

"So, you're now deep into the resistance then?" Kaysa wiggled under Zale's arm until it was over her shoulders. She laughed softly and rested her head upon his chest as she partook of her meal. "You're into some pretty dangerous stuff, Zale. Are you sure it's still a good idea that you're associating with Ithea?"

"Regardless of what her current association to Tarkin is," Zale said, "she won't be getting any legitimate information from me. She's stayed under the same roof as that man, so I'm not about to give her any of my trust. Not until she proves herself beyond any doubt." He took turns feeding each of them with the fork. "I don't think now is a good time to do it because of the Imperial situation, but I want to make you a more solid partner in my organization. And, that will allow us more time together."

Kaysa halted the fork before Zale managed to bring it to her lips, then looked up at him. "A partner? How, exactly?" Kaysa sat up straighter in the bed and chewed her lip pensively. "Do you really think now is the right time? With the Rennor situation..." Kaysa gave a short laugh and sighed deeply. "I'd almost forgotten about that. We're in a lot of trouble, Zale."

"Now is definitely not a good time," Zale said, "so we'll have to wait. When this situation is resolved, I want to though. If you're up for that, of course. We need to get past the Rennor situation, and then we'll see what happens."

"But...when this does happen, what exactly would I be doing?" Kaysa laughed as she slid back into Zale's arms. "I know what you want. You want me to be your tension reliever. When the job gets too stressful, you call me over for a quick one so you can be a more productive and efficient crimelord. Can't afford to have you making mistakes... Is that what you had in mind?"

Zale smiled. "That's one part of it," he said. "The other part is I like having you around, and I want to work with you. We'd need to work out the details of what you'd do other than acting as my sex slave when I'm not acting as yours."

"Well I do run a smuggling business, Zale. I'm sure you can contract me to do runs exclusively for your operations. I've got some good pilots and with your business backing mine, I'll have a lot more financial stability and it might just keep the law off my back." Kaysa kissed Zale's chest lightly, then laughed. "Having a crimelord as a financial partner certainly would make the Imps think twice about messing with me."

"Especially once I secure my position as the top crimelord on Tae'Karada. I think working together will be good, and with my financial backing you'll really be able to ramp up your business and compete with the bigger smuggling operations. I think this will be good for us, Kaysa. Very good. And, you don't have to worry about me trying to buy you out or take control. Zenarr Inc. will be yours completely. And, if you're interested, there are some other businesses I could place in your care. The profits to you would be greater, and it would help ease some of the burden from me. If you're interested."

"Of course I'm interested and I think you know that." Kaysa gave Zale a sly grin and took the tray from his hands. She placed it on the small table next to the bed and slipped onto Zale's lap. "I think you're just being coy," she said silkily. She straddled his waist and trailed kisses along his neck. "You know business talk gets me all worked up. And profit... Even moreso." Kaysa smoothed her hands over Zale's chest as her lips continued covering his face with kisses. "I want to work with you, Zale. It would mean we'd have to see each other a lot more, which would help you fall even deeper in love with me."

"I'd like that," Zale said. She was having the desired effect on him and he smiled as he looked up into her eyes while moving his cock to her entrance. He pushed himself inside as she lowered herself back on him. "I want to see a lot more of you, Kaysa. As much as I can."

"I bet you do," she said with a sigh. Kaysa pressed her lips to Zale's and kissed him deeply and tenderly. She knew his business offer was most likely an attempt to lure her away from Merrick and closer to him, but he knew how her mind worked and knew precisely what to do and say to pull her right into his grasp. "Do you have to go into the office today," she asked softly. She moaned quietly as she moved against Zale sensuously. "You have to stay with me, Zale. We can stay here and just lay in bed all day."

Zale shook his head slowly. "I don't," he said. "I'll take today for you. Do you want to try for two hours today?"

Kaysa laughed, but seeing that Zale's face held no sign of jest, her mouth dropped agape. "You're serious?" She slowed her movements and kissed Zale again. "You'll have to teach me some of this Shac'Tae if I'm gonna be keeping up with you. Two hours..." Kaysa let out a deep breath and shook her head. "You're amazing, Zale."

Zale looked into her eyes and nodded slowly. "I am, aren't I," he said. "After we finish this, what would you like to do?"

"Who would have thought I'd find you two here," said a voice from the doorway. "You two definitely look like you're having much more fun than dealing with the Rennor situation."

Kaysa closed her eyes and cursed quietly. She opened her eyes and grimaced at Zale as she slid off him and sat upon the bed again. "Shiv... Good morning." She gathered the sheets around herself to conceal her flushed body. Shiv couldn't have interrupted them at a more inconvenient time. "What are you doing back here?"

"Because Stev and Coryl were tired of just looking at me, and Ithea told me to go away because she had things to do," she said. "And, besides, I'm still Zale's little slave, so I'm back here for my master." She glanced between Kaysa and Zale and frowned. "Well, I'll let you finish what you were doing since you don't want me here."

"Shiv, stop that." Kaysa sighed and slid off the bed with the covers tightly wrapped around here. "I guess the charade is up, but I think you knew exactly what Zale and I were doing last night before you even walked through that door." She moved to Shiv and wrapped her arms around her. She kissed her tenderly then looked at her with a gentle smile. "How was your night? Did Ithea have fun?"

"Ithea had a great time," Shiv said. "She had lots of sex and was practically glowing brighter than the sun this morning. I gave Coryl one handjob because he was being so pathetic and I felt guilty for leading him on all night. So, all in all, my night was a total fucking waste."

"I'm sorry, Shiv." Kaysa sighed and embraced her again. "Are you hungry?" She smiled and pointed to the tray next to the bed. "Zale made it," she whispered with a note of excitement. "It's really good."

Shiv looked at the food and then to Kaysa. "I'm not very hungry right now," she said. "I'll probably just go for a walk, or maybe..." She looked up at Kaysa and sighed. "I'll just go for a walk...see how my ship is doing."

Kaysa watched Zale, silently pleading for assistance, but he merely sat back, looking on with an impassive gaze. Kaysa glared at him and shook her head slowly as she turned back to Shiv. "Let's...let's go in the living area, Shiv, okay? I think we need to talk about...things."

Shiv nodded. "Okay," she said, and glanced over at Zale. "Ithea was very wild last night, especially after the spice." She then turned and followed Kaysa out into the other room. She dropped her boots next to the couch and then crawled up onto it to sit. "You guys sounded like you were going to be having a good time. I'm sorry I interrupted."

Kaysa sighed sharply and stood over Shiv. "Stop it, Shiv. Stop trying to make me feel sorry for you and stop trying to make me feel like shit for what I did to you last night." She crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips tightly. "Would you like to know why I didn't want you here last night?"

Shiv looked away from Kaysa, her eyes hardening against Kaysa's anger. "Because you're tired of sharing your men with me? Or because you want Zale all to yourself. Those would be my guesses. And, I was miserable last night because I knew you were here with Zale, and I was stuck over there alone. Do you know what it's like to sit in one room with a guy sprawled out on the bed naked, begging you to fuck him, while listening to a friend having sex in the next room? And...and knowing you were here, having sex with Zale and you didn't want me here with you..."

"Shiv..." Kaysa's gaze softened and she sat down quickly beside her. "I...I don't know what got into me last night, but...I wanted to be with Zale alone. Something happened last night and I just...I needed to be with him to comfort me." Kaysa looked to her hands folded in her lap and said slowly, "It really did have to do with Rennor, Shiv. Have...have you read the morning holonews?"

Shiv shook her head. "No, I sort of got out of bed, got dressed and Ithea and I left. After we dropped her off at her apartment, I walked here. I wouldn't have expected it of her, but she actually paid for the hovercab." She looked into Kaysa's face and frowned. "What happened?"

"Shiv...you can't tell Merrick this and I really didn't want to tell you either, but it seems to be the only way to quell your anger." Kaysa closed her eyes as she flashed back to the other night. The realization of what was happening truly hit her now and she sank into Shiv's arms with a heavy sigh. "He's dead, Shiv. Rennor's been murdered and last night... Zale and I are the main suspects, Shiv. Last night we spent a few hours in an Imperial stockade being questioned...accused, rather, of killing Rennor. You can't tell, Merrick, Shiv. You can't."

"Oh gods, Kaysa," Shiv said as she pulled Kaysa closer to her. "Oh gods what happened? How could they even think--? I mean, sure Rennor was a complete nerf, but that's no reason to kill him. Why would they even think it was you? And, Zale? Zale's a cute little sebracat with braids. He couldn't do something like that. I won't say anything at all to Merrick, Kayse. Not about any of this, not Rennor, or the Imps, or Zale or any of it. I won't say a word to anyone."

"I know you won't, Shiv. That's why I care so deeply for you." Kaysa kissed Shiv tenderly, then held her again tightly. "I just needed to be with Zale last night. I didn't want you to get involved in this whole mess. I'm sorry, Shiv. It's not that I didn't want you to be with Zale because of petty jealousy, it was because I needed to be comforted by him, completely. I was afraid if you were there, he wouldn't be able to. But I won't be so stupid again, Shiv. My poor girl..."

"I could have comforted you too," Shiv said with a smile. "I think between us, Zale and I could have made you feel quite comforted. If I know you need comforting, I'll make sure all the loving is directed at you."

"I-I know, Shiv, but it was just less complex this way. I wasn't thinking clearly last night and I'm sorry." Kaysa sat up and smiled at Shiv tightly. "I was just a scatterbrain. They put locators in us, Shiv. They're tracking our every move and I wouldn't be surprised if they're surveilling us as well. Still it was no excuse for what I did to you and I'm still so sorry." Her smile curled into a silky one as she ran her finger down Shiv's chest. "Do you want me to make up for last night? I'd be honoured to..."

Shiv couldn't stop the moan that emerged at Kaysa's touch. She felt her body nearly erupt with passionate need as Kaysa's finger brought out every single desire she'd had to ignore the night before. "You have no idea how bad...I was so turned on last night, but I couldn't do anything. I came so close to doing something stupid, but I stopped myself. Please, Kaysa....please..."

"Shhh... It's okay, Shiv," Kaysa whispered as her lips brushed against Shiv's cheek. "I'll make it all better..." With her free hand, Kaysa tugged off the bedsheet and threw it aside, then flattened her bare body against Shiv's. Even through Shiv's clothing she could feel the heat running through her body, conveying her rekindled desire. Kaysa slipped a hand under Shiv's dress while her tongue trailed along her neck. "I can imagine how horrible it was, Shiv. But I'll make you forget it all."

Shiv sighed softly at Kaysa's kiss and then moaned as Kaysa's hand found its way between her thighs. She couldn't find her voice to speak; the only sounds that would come were whimpers and moans. As Kaysa slipped her fingers inside, Shiv cried out against the ecstasy of her touch. She could feel an orgasm rushing on already, and from the way her body was already trembling when it did hit it would be very powerful.

"Oh, my poor girl," Kaysa cooed softly. "You really have suffered, haven't you?" Kaysa laughed gently then covered Shiv's mouth with her own. As her fingers danced inside of Shiv, her tongue entwined with Shiv's, whose sought hers out desperately. Her free hand began kneading one of Shiv's breasts, and pressed against her palm she could feel Shiv's hardened nipple, simply another testament to her flaring desire. "You're going to cum soon, aren't you, my dear," she asked lovingly. "Zale and I went for an hour last night. A whole hour with our bodies writhing in ecstasy, the sweat glistening on our flesh as we danced." Kaysa laughed softly as Shiv's body jerked against her touch, her words arousing even more yearning in Shiv.

Shiv writhed on the couch under Kaysa's touch, each second taking her closer and closer to climax. "Oh gods I love you, Kaysa. Please, keep going, I'll try...as long as I can. I don't know how long though....just keep..." She let out a scream filled with all her passion and desire. "I love you, Kaysa!"

Kaysa let out a gentle moan herself as Shiv's unbridled ecstasy infected her. "My good girl," she whispered tenderly. She hastened her motions to bring Shiv perpetually closer to that satiation she craved, and she soon found her own breathing becoming heavy as Shiv's pleasure inspired her own. She began sliding her hand down her own stomach and between her legs, but she knew if she started that, she couldn't stop unless she was fulfilled. Her kisses became frenzied and passionate while her fingers continued gracing Shiv's opening. She tore her lips away and after letting out another deep moan, she whispered into Shiv's ear, "You may cum now, my dear."

As if on cue, Shiv's entire body arched and she cried out as her orgasm hit with the force of an Imperial Star Destroyer in hyperspace. Her hands clawed at the couch as her head rolled from side to side and her body trembled with the waves of pleasure. After long moments, it finally started to subside, leaving Shiv breathless and dizzy. "Oh, gods Kaysa," she rasped, "thank you. Thank you. Oh, only you can make me feel like that."

"And make you scream like that, I presume." Kaysa kissed Shiv as she gasped for air. She encircled Shiv in her arms and moved her kisses to her neck and chest to give her a chance to regain her breath. "I hope that makes up for last night."

Shiv nodded. "It does," she said softly. "It definitely makes up for it. And, all those desires that were building up have been satisfied. Did you want me to...take care of you too? I'd like to if you want me to."

Kaysa laughed gently and rubbed Shiv's back soothingly. "Not now, I'm afraid. Zale and I were about to go and talk to some lawyers about the Rennor situation. I want to get this cleared up as quickly as possible." She kissed Shiv's cheek softly. "But after we get back, I'd really like it if you did reciprocate. I think I've absorbed some of your sexual energy; you got me worked up too."

Shiv giggled. "I like it when I do that," she said. "Do we still have to wear equadis? Or can I wear normal clothes today?"

"I'm not exactly sure. I guess that's something we'll have to ask Zale." Kaysa smiled gently as she pulled away from Shiv and retrieved her bedsheet from the floor. "Let's go ask him so we can get this day started. Maybe while we're in the meeting, he'll let you go visit Merrick." Kaysa held out her hand to Shiv and pulled her up from the couch. She glanced sideways at her as they started towards the bedroom and gave Shiv a crooked smile. "Did you really give that guy a handjob?"

Shiv grinned. "He was very appreciative," she said. "He offered to give me one, but I told him no. Whatever brief satisfaction he could give me, it could never compare to what I get from you."

Kaysa smiled and kissed Shiv's cheek. "Well, no more handjobs for strange men. Your hands belong to me and Merrick...and Zale, if you want." As they entered the room, Kaysa caught a glimpse of Zale quickly slipping under the covers and settling himself into a casual pose. "Zale?" Kaysa raised a suspicious eyebrow at him. "What's going on?"

Zale looked up at Kaysa, his expression exuding pure innocence. "Nothing," he said with a smile. "I was just adjusting the covers here. We rumpled the bed quite a bit last night. I was just putting everything back into place. Is everything alright now?"

Kaysa kept her gaze skeptical as she studied Zale, then gave a short, cynical laugh and dismissed the fact that he was obviously lying. "Well...everything appears to be better. I explained to Shiv the situation and she understands. Don't you, Shiv?"

Shiv moved to the bed and sat on the edge. "Definitely understand," Shiv said. "That really sucks that the Imperials are so stupid."

"Well," Zale said, "they'll learn from their mistakes, I'm sure. I have a few ideas that will be put into place down the road, and I'm sure they'll feel it."

Kaysa stood at the foot of the bed with her arms folded over her chest. "We have to get out of this unscathed first, Zale. We're still the main suspects remember? What I wanna know is who the hell set us up in the first place."

"And, we will escape," Zale said. "I don't intend to put my plan into action until we're clear of this mess. If it were just me, I'd have no qualms about doing it now. But, I don't want to have you pulled under because of me."

"We're gonna be partners, Zale, which means whatever happens to you happens to me and I accept the consequences of that." Kaysa smiled at Zale, almost flattered at his need to protect her. If Shiv weren't in the room, she would have thanked him for his concern...twice. "Are Shiv and I going to your office this morning? We should really talk to Moril, which might be a little boring for Shiv."

"Well, if the two of you want to go to the office this morning, that's fine," Zale said. "If you do, say hi to Moril for me." He gave them both a grin. "So, about the rest of this week. What do the two of you want?"

Kaysa frowned at Zale, then gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't care," she said curtly. "It's up to Shiv." Kaysa turned and headed for the closet where she'd stored her clothes previously. "If we don't have to accompany you to the office, I think I'll go down to Zenarr Inc." She slid open the closet door and began pushing aside the clothing hanging from the bar. Glancing back at Zale for a moment, she cast him an angry glare. She hated it when he was arrogant and insolent; at times, she suspected he intentionally tried to enrage her.

"Okay," he said. "Well, then I release you from your enslavement to me. And, after you and Shiv head to Zenarr Inc., I think you and I should meet privately with Moril to discuss things from last night. He'll need to be involved in this so he can get people working on it."

Kaysa hid her satisfied grin and pulled an outfit from the closet. "I like that arrangement very well." She turned around again and looked at Zale with an alluring smile. "Very well indeed." She tugged at the bedsheet wrapped around her and let it fall to the ground. She enjoyed having things her way, and when Zale cooperated instead of fighting her, it always put her in good spirits. Kaysa draped her outfit over the back of a chair near the closet, then began pulling the pants from the hanger. "So Zenarr Inc. first, then Shiv can run along and see Merrick if she likes. You'll stay here, I presume, Zale?"

Zale nodded. "I'll wait for you here," he said. He smiled as Kaysa dressed before both of them, showing no inhibitions, yet he knew that she'd deny the three of them the pleasure of sharing each other together. She'd take him, or she'd take Shiv, but the lines would never be crossed. And, he was quite certain pushing for anything more would result in trouble. Kaysa Zenarr was a jealous, selfish, and spiteful woman, and there was nothing he could do about it. "How long do you think you'll be?"

"Maybe an hour. I just have to check on a few things, see how the shipments are going..." Kaysa smoothed out the sleeves of her shirt then looked up at Zale with a smile. "Thank you for the codes, by the way. I don't know who your contact is, but he's good. I haven't had one ship stopped yet."

"Well, that's what those codes are for," Zale said. "And, she knows that if one of the ships using those codes is stopped, then things will go badly for her. Well, you better get going if we're going to have any time to go over the situation with Moril. I'll be waiting here when you're done."

Kaysa heard nothing after Zale's reference to his female contact. Her hands dropped to her sides and she eyed Zale with a wry grin. "She? Your contact's a woman?" With a suddenly flaring jealousy she hadn't felt since she found Merrick holding Shiv's panties, Kaysa stormed from the room laughing dryly and shaking her head. "I was beginning to wonder how you got those codes so damn quickly. I bet if you'd screwed her twice, she would have gotten them to you in half the time. Come on, Shiv! We have to get going."

Shiv obediently fell into step behind Kaysa, but stopped short when Zale bellowed, "Stop!" He came off the bed directly toward Kaysa, his eyes flashing with open anger. "What the fuck is your problem, Kaysa?"

"That is my problem," Kaysa hissed as she pointed to Zale's exposed penis. "You so easily just give it away and now I'm beginning to wonder whether all this," she said as she motioned to the bed and the breakfast sitting on the night table, "is just your way of luring yet another gullible woman into your bed. I suppose your partnership offer was just another tactic, another manoeuvre you're using to add me to your stable of fucking concubines! If I'd known that procurement of those codes meant pushing you to another woman, I would have told you to keep them!"

Zale glared at Kaysa for a long moment, then turned and moved back into the bedroom and slammed the door shut; the lock snicked into place.

The sounds from within were muffled, but Kaysa could distinctly hear Shiv's voice asking Zale what the hell he was doing before she heard what sounded like the sound of ripping fabric. Shiv cried out in fear, but after awhile of Zale grunting and moaning, Shiv's cries turned to those of pleasure. Though, even in the pleasure, a subtle fear undercut the emotions.

Kaysa was at the bedroom door in a mad rush, banging on it and spouting profanities punctuated by angry shrieks. Pain shot through her hands and arms as she continued pounding furiously at the door, trying desperately to drown out Shiv's moans and cries of ecstasy. Her searing anger soon expressed itself through the spilling of stinging tears from her eyes and piteous sobs.

She kicked and banged on the door with a slowly dwindling intensity before her blows stopped completely and the only sounds left in the apartment were her sobs and Shiv's moans. Kaysa pressed her back to the door and slid along it onto the ground in a heap. She buried her face into her raised knees and cradled her trembling body. If he could so easily lock himself into a room with a woman not herself, then it was true and he really was simply using her.

Anger and disgust, both directed towards herself, soon replaced her resentment of Zale. Her cries grew louder and more tortured as she listened on, hearing Zale enjoying himself with another woman. She believed his professions of love and truly was swayed by his flattery and tokens of love - the breakfast included. She was a fool in convincing herself she needed him so desperately, and he was a fiend for using that vulnerability to satisfy his own sick desires.

The sounds went on inside the bedroom for quite some time, both Shiv's moans and cries mixing with Zale's grunting exertion. Finally there was a moment of silence, that followed with: "Oh gods, Zale. Please no! Please!! No!! Oh gods--" And, once again, she cried out and the sounds of their carnal activities began again.

Kaysa shook her head wildly to shut out the sounds piercing her ears and stabbing at her resolve, which no sooner fell in a tattered heap than Zale and Shiv began tormenting her again. Kaysa choked back the freshly forming tears and unsteadily pushed herself to her feet. She didn't care that she wore no shoes or that she was so bleary-eyed she would most likely wander onto the streets and get herself killed; she needed to get away from the cries agonizing her soul.

She staggered to the door and rushed out into the hallway as it slid open. Even halfway to the elevators she could hear Shiv's moans tinged with pain, and Zale's primal grunts. If he'd wanted to punish her, he succeeded. Once inside the elevator, Kaysa slid to the floor again and carried on wallowing in self pity. By surrendering to Zale again, she'd only reinforced how truly weak and pathetic she was, and she hated him for helping her bring that to light.

Back in Zale's bedroom, Shiv cried out again as tears streamed down her face. Behind her, Zale grunted and once again thrust himself deep inside the girl, making the violation that much more complete. Kaysa wanted to make him out to be some sort of rampaging sex fiend who got what he wanted through sexual conquest, then that's what he'd give her, starting with her precious little lover. He liked Shiv, cared for her, but she was also symbolic of Kaysa. A part of him rebelled, the guilt he felt at his actions was overwhelming. But the rest of him, the hateful, angry part was enjoying the control he had seized immensely. Whenever Kaysa felt jealous or angry, she pushed; and this time she'd pushed him too far. How dare she accuse him of conducting his business as if he were running a whorehouse. He thrust harder inside, and then cried out as he filled her anus with his seed. Even over his cries of pleasure, he could hear her sobs. He smiled, knowing that Kaysa was probably doing the same. Served her right for thinking of him as she did.

Zale pulled out of Shiv and wiped himself clean on the remains of her dress. He moved to the door and unlocked it. He wasn't surprised that Kaysa wasn't outside, though he grumbled angrily that she'd left the front door open as she'd fled. After closing it, he moved back to the bedroom and glanced at Shiv -- collapsed on the sheets with silent sobs wracking her body. He remembered giving Kaysa the same treatment not so long ago. He started pulling on clothes, and once he was dressed started toward the door. "I'm heading to the office," he said. "Just in case you were wondering." With that, he left the apartment, leaving Shiv alone.

---

"Shattered Peace, Part 2"
by Kaysa Zenarr
Maeren Shivral
Zale Tregat
and Vrax Draydge [NPC]
Location: New Plouton, Tae'Karada
Date: Praeda 19, 4ABY

***

Running through the streets with the wind whipping at her face helped dry the remaining tears from her eyes. The pain was still there, however, and no amount of crying could ever wash it away. Her lungs burned and her throat was hoarse from the sobs she emitted, but she didn't know any way to deal with Zale's betrayal other than to run away. She berated herself for trying to love him, even though she knew it doing so would have destroyed what she had with Shiv and Merrick, but the only thing hurt now by Zale's twisted game was her pride.

Zenarr Inc. came into view, and Kaysa sought it out desperately. She needed to shelter herself from anything remotely related to Zale that would only exacerbate her pain; she wanted to cower under her desk and continue spilling the tears that were brimming in her eyes. With a loud sob, Kaysa pushed through the door of her company, too anguished to even notice the door had been unlocked. If she had begun to wonder, she would immediately have known why. "What the hell are you doing here," she spat in an uncontrolled shout.

Vrax glanced up from the files he'd been going through. He quirked an eyebrow when he saw Kaysa standing there and then smiled. He glanced at her bare feet beneath the dark pants she wore and smirked. "I could ask the same of you," he said, his grin warring to be innocent and sly at the same time. "Well, to answer your question, I work here. That's why I'm here." He held up a file. "Looks like Tizeigal Acquisitions wants us to acquire and ship them some of the new DL-98 blasters from BlasTech. They don't have the military contracts for something like that, so it'd all have to be below the boards. Didn't expect you in today, so I was just going over the paperwork myself."

"Why the hell wouldn't I be in," Kaysa asked irritably as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She was still far too shaken from the incident with Zale to realize that, in her mind, Vrax was no longer under her employ, but the memories quickly returned once she caught that malevolent gleam in his eyes she'd come to associate with him. As far as she was concerned, he was finished at Zenarr Inc.; all that was left was for Vrax to be made aware of that.

Kaysa sniffled and choked back another shuddering sob as she moved to the chair across from her desk and sank into it. She gazed at Vrax warily and glanced suspiciously at the files, making certain he really was doing what he said he was doing. "Where ya been, Vrax? You've been missing for almost a week."

"Well, after trying to carry out your plan for that little bitch in heat of yours, I figured I'd better lie low," he said. He decided to mention that he knew Kaysa was living with the whore again. And from what he'd been seeing lately everything was peaceful between them; at least if the screams of pleasure were any indication. "You don't look so good, Kayse. Is everything alright?"

Kaysa dismissed his almost touching show of concern for her with a curt wave of her hand and a grumble. She paused for a moment to settle her nerves before she got down to the task at hand. She needed her full composure if Vrax was to receive the seething tirade she had yearned to give him for a very long time. Taking a deep breath, Kaysa's gaze hardened and her eyes darkened from the rage boiling within her. She looked to Vrax with a twisted smile and spoke in an eerily calm, steady voice. "You failed me, Vrax. The men you hired were pathetic wastes of money. I wanted the girl raped and all I get is a little bruising around the face and nothing more. Are you that incompetent?"

"That bastard Zale Tregat showed up with a team of mercenaries. You can't expect my boys to rape the hell out of the bitch while they're being attacked by a bunch of well-equipped, yet incompetent security goons, do you? And, with all the noise being made, the authorities were bound to show up soon. Can't exactly give the whore her just desserts with a squad of Imps standing around. Don't worry though, I've got plans for the girl. She won't get away a second time."

"Oh really?" Kaysa's mouth twitched as a frown threatened to consume her smile. She leaned forward, intent upon hearing the scheme Vrax had cooked up for Shiv. She was beginning to realize she'd unleashed a monster; she'd incorporated all the darkest elements of herself into it, then set it loose to inflict suffering upon all her enemies. But Vrax had become an entirely different creature now and Kaysa feared she'd lost complete control of him. "I hope it's something completely vile, Vrax. You've got a lot to make up for."

"Oh, I've got a plan that can't fail this time," he said. "The only problem is the little cunt will probably like it too much when I fuck her brains out. I figure I'll nab her, take her to a place only I know about, and just spend a week with her. Maybe invite over a few friends for a taste once in awhile. Once I break her that way, then the pain starts. I figure I can beat the shit out of her, and then dunk her into some bacta. She could be real nice that way. If we get her trained right, I'm sure we can charge for her. She could be a profitable side business."

"Wow, you've certainly thought this through." Kaysa rose from her seat and slowly paced the room, making certain to keep her face away from Vrax so the disgust conveyed in her downturned lips wouldn't be apparent. "I'm beginning to wonder whether you need my guidance anymore. You seem to be doing remarkably well on your own. I fear I've outlived my usefulness."

"Well, I wouldn't say that, Kayse," Vrax said. "We do work very well together. I think perhaps partners would be a good next step for us. Just think of what we could do together. I imagine before long we'd own this entire city, possibly even the planet. We make things happen, Kayse. You know we belong together. We were made to do this kind of thing together."

"Hmm..." Kaysa stopped pacing and turned around towards Vrax. With a feral smile, she said, "You're delusional, Vrax." She slowly moved closer to the desk with her eyes boring into Vrax's. "You're an abomination, a fiend, a pathetic creature that I should have squashed long ago." Kaysa slammed her hands onto the desk and leaned forward until her face was threateningly close to Vrax's. "Do you wanna know how Zale found out about our scheme, Vrax? Or would you rather know why I told him?" A derisive laughed bubbled in Kaysa's throat as she watched the realization quickly hit Vrax. She nodded her head slowly and began laughing wildly. "Uh huh...that's right, Vrax. Me."

Vrax's eyes burned as he stared at Kaysa. She sold him out. The fucking bitch sold him out, and saved the little blonde whore-- "Why the fuck would you do something like that, Kaysa," he snapped. "You hate the girl as much as I do. The plan was perfect, but you're too weak. Why the fuck did you have to go weak, Kayse? Why'd you have to turn against me like that? You really shouldn't turn against me, Kaysa. You really shouldn't. Why would you want to save that cheap, whore-slut from the plan we made for her?"

Kaysa's smile was quickly replaced with a scowl as she slammed her hands violently onto the desk. "I was never with you, Vrax," she said between clenched teeth. "You were my lackey and that's all, nothing more. All you were good for was blindly following my orders thinking someday, I'd actually reward you for your loyal services by letting you stick your dick in me." Kaysa straightened up and gave him an acidulous stare. "Maybe you thought I might even grow to love you if you performed all those vile deeds for me. It only made me resent you, you fucking fool. I'm not the weak one, Vrax. You're the weak, pathetic being, thinking you might actually make the woman of your dreams love you by helping her destroy her fucking life! You're an idiot! You're no one without me and I'm disgusted to even say it, but I made you who you are today. You've never had an independent thought in your life until I found you, took you in, taught you everything I knew." Kaysa rounded the desk and stalked towards Vrax. "Without me, you're nothing. And now, you really are because it's over, Vrax." A slow, menacing smile curled her lips as she leaned forward and whispered, "You're fired."

"You think you can run this operation without me, Kaysa," Vrax said, his voice a low rasp. "You think your prissy little whore will help you? She's more interested in getting herself some dick than with anything else. Did you know that when she was out on the streets for those four months, she let guys fuck her for meals? She'd let a guy do whatever he wanted to her as long as at the end of it, he gave her something to eat. Sometimes just for credits so she could get a meal on her own. I was at a bar one night when she was outside, just begging for some scraps, a drink, anything. She took about twenty guys that night, sucked off another fifteen. She earned herself a feast. Oh, she'll help you run this business. And, when the competition muscles in, she can just fuck them into a partnership with you. Fire me, Kaysa, and you're only fucking yourself over."

Without hesitating, Kaysa balled up her fist and swung it at Vrax, centring the blow on his nose. "You're a liar as well as a lunatic!" Kaysa stepped back and aside so the door was clearly in view to Vrax. "I don't need you, Vrax! I never did. I didn't need a shadow following my every move and watching as I fucked men who weren't you. I bet you wished you were in their place, but you weren't and never would have been. If I were you, I'd watch my back, Draydge. You've got Zale Tregat after you, and now you've got me. Once Shiv hears the disgusting things you've been saying about her, I think she'll wanna put a few holes into you, or maybe even relieve you of a few extremities. Now get the fuck out of my office!"

"Tell your little bitch girlfriend she better watch her own ass from now on," Vrax hissed. "Just when she least expects it, she'll be mine. I'll do all those things you wanted done to her and more. I'll break her down and use her up, leaving you only a shriveled husk." He moved to the door, and glared back at her. "And, you might want to keep your boyfriend indoors from now on. He's not safe either. Be a damn shame to have the news racing across the galaxy that Merrick Braston fell prey to a brutal rape gang." With that, he dodged out the door before she could swing at him again. Once into the sunlight, he felt the sting of where she hit him and winced. He didn't have to tell himself that she'd pay, from the sounds of it the Imperial authorities were taking care of that already.

Although she'd given the impression to Vrax that his threats seemed nothing but idle ones to her, Kaysa knew what he was capable of. She had created him, after all, and that is what she feared most. Shiv was in danger, Merrick was in danger... Only darkness and pain surrounded Kaysa and it engulfed all those around her as well. She spun towards her desk and rested a steadying hand upon it. She was trembling and quickly losing her resolve, but she knew if she didn't hold it together, Vrax's threats would be fulfilled and her life, as well as Merrick's and Shiv's, would be shattered. Frantically, she punched in the code to Shiv's comm device onto the one she wore on her wrist. She feared, more than finding out Zale was still with her, that Vrax had somehow already gotten to her. If she only heard Shiv's voice, her present fears would be assuaged.

"Yeah," Shiv's voice said softly from Kaysa's comm.

The door to the office creaked open, and as Kaysa turned fearing the worst, she saw Shiv standing there. Her face was tearstained, and she was wearing a loose top that was several sizes too large for her. It looked like it could have come from Zale's closet. She had her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes, though haunted, still lit up at the sight of Kaysa before her.

As Kaysa spun quickly towards the door, and an even greater sense of dread erupted in her as she saw Shiv's trembling body and her mouth quivering with suppressed tears. Kaysa's own tears began again as she rushed towards Shiv and took her into her arms. "Oh gods, Shiv. Are you okay?" She kissed her face gently and soothingly rubbed her back. "Zale did this... He hurt you, didn't he? That bastard!"

Shiv nearly collapsed into Kaysa's arms as once again the sobs came. "I didn't want him to, but he did anyway. He was so... Oh gods Kaysa I was so scared. And, he...he...back there. Oh gods...it hurt so much. And, then he just left. I've never felt so... I didn't know what else to do so I came here. I thought this was where you'd be...so I came. Oh gods...just please hold me."

Kaysa held Shiv so tightly, she feared she would crush her with her arms. She kissed her face and neck desperately and whispered softly in Shiv's ear to comfort her. "I'm so sorry, Shiv." She sobbed quietly, but was determined to keep herself composed for Shiv's sake. "He won't ever go near you again. If he does, I'll kill him, I swear." She cradled Shiv's face in her hands and wiped the tears spilling down her cheeks. "Shiv...I don't mean to upset you more, but you have to go. You have to leave Tae'Karada now and you can't come back until I contact you. Do you understand me?"

Shiv pulled out of Kaysa's arms far enough so she could look into Kaysa's face. "Leave? Why? What's going on Kasya? Why did Zale do that to me? And, why do I have to leave?"

"It would be better for you if you didn't know, Shiv. All you have to know is that it isn't safe for you here right now. There are some things going on, complicated things... You have to go, Shiv. Please." Kaysa sobbed and pulled Shiv back into the embrace, one originally meant to give Shiv comfort but which now served to soothe Kaysa's rampant fear. "Oh gods...I've screwed everything up, Shiv. You have to forgive me. I'm so sorry."

Shiv held tightly to Kaysa, fighting back the tears threatening to spill once more. "You have to tell me, Kaysa," she said. "If something's going on, I need to know about it. I'll go, but you have to tell me what's going on."

"You're in danger, Shiv. That's all you need to know. You're in danger, and I'm too weak to protect you, so you have to go away." Kaysa buried her face into Shiv's shoulder and shook with bitter sobs. Once again, her weakness was forcing her to push away another person she cared for. Abandoning Keeve was necessary to save herself from the pain of watching him grow to resemble the man who broke her heart, but pushing Shiv away was out of necessity to save the girl's life. "Please, Shiv...you have to go."

Shiv looked into Kaysa's eyes for several long moments before she finally nodded. "Okay," she said. "I'll go. I just hope it's not going to be for too long. I'm really gonna miss you and Merrick. I'll...I'll go to Tatooine. That's where most people go when they want to escape being seen. I'll go there."

"Okay, Shiv. Tatooine. That...that sounds good." Kaysa caressed Shiv's cheek tenderly, then kissed her deeply before the sobs seized her again and she was forced to seek solace in Shiv's arms. "I never wanted this to happen, Shiv. But I'll fix everything, and when I do, we'll all be together again. Gods...Shiv I-- You don't know how much I care for you."

"It'll all be okay," Shiv whispered. "Whatever's going on, it'll all be over and we'll be okay. I love you, Kaysa. I don't want to go. I don't want to be without you. I'll make it though. I'll be okay."

She wasn't worried about Shiv making it through alright, she was more afraid that this was one trial she herself wouldn't triumph over. Kaysa swallowed back the tightness in her throat and slipped her hand into Shiv's. "Come on. We have to get you on your way." Kaysa moved with Shiv to her desk, then reached into the top drawer. She pulled out a piece of durasheet and a pen. She scribbled quickly on the sheet, then handed it to Shiv. "This is all the information you'll need to access my private bank account. Take as much as you need, Shiv. It's all yours."

Shiv threw her arms around Kaysa. "Maybe you can make a trip to Tatooine at some point," she whispered before kissing her deeply. "I'm gonna miss you. I'll go straight to my ship and go. I'll get new clothes there. Just...no, no don't thank Zale for this shirt. I should have taken all of his clothes and brought them with me. I got a lot of stares walking like this, but I ignored them."

"I bet you liked them," Kaysa said with a rueful smile. She spread fervent kisses along Shiv's neck and cheeks, wanting to drag the moment on as long as she could. "I don't want to let you go, Shiv, but I know I have to. I...I'll tell Merrick everything. I'll tell him how much you love him and I want you to never forget how much he loves you. Never forget, Shiv."

"Never," Shiv whispered. "And, I liked the stares, but they're nothing compared to being in your arms. I'll be safe, and you'll be too. I'll be back, make sure Merrick knows that. I hate this. I should go. I really hate this, Kaysa. I want you to come with me. I know you can't, but I want you to. I'll go now...after one more hug and kiss."

"I'm always happy to oblige." Kaysa gazed deeply into Shiv's eyes, conveying as much desire and tenderness as a simple stare could, then lovingly, she took Shiv gently into her arms and kissed her softly. For a moment, all her anxieties and fears diminished, but once the kiss broke, they all returned again in full force. "Be safe, Shiv, my precious girl. You could never truly understand how much you mean to me, and I'll never know how undeserving of your love I am."

"I'll be safe," she said. "I'll send you a message when I get there, so you know I'm safe. It'll be okay, Kaysa. It'll all be okay. You'll make everything okay, and we'll be able to be together again."

"Yeah, Shiv. Everything's gonna be okay." Kaysa smiled at Shiv, but the reassurance she tried to exude was not something she felt within herself. "You have to go. I don't want you to, but you have to go now. I'll see you soon, Shiv. If you get lonely, just think of me and Merrick and know we care for you. We're always with you, Shiv. Don't forget that."

"I know," Shiv said, and kissed Kaysa one more time before turning and hurrying from the office. She stopped at the transparisteel door and waved once before starting off across the street and heading toward the starport where her ship lay waiting. As she hurried away, wearing only the shirt stolen from Zale's closet, it was easy to see from the heaving of her shoulders and her posture that she was sobbing uncontrollably.

Kaysa's body trembled with the sobs she'd been forcing back, and now that Shiv was out of sight, her tears threatened to spill over again, but she knew she couldn't afford to break down now. Shiv was safe, but Merrick was still in danger. The anger she'd felt towards Zale was overshadowed by all the grief filling her, but she knew once she had seen to Merrick's safety, she would find some way to punish Zale for Shiv's violation, as well as his manipulation of her own vulnerability.

Once Shiv was safely down the street, Kaysa sprinted out of her office and headed in the opposite direction. Merrick would be at the White Noise rehearsing, she hoped. If he was out alone in the streets... "Damn you, Vrax," she spat. "You'll pay for all of this. I vow that, you bastard."

***

"But you don't look alright," Moril was saying again as Zale stared at the screen on his desk. "Talk to me, Zale. I can't help you if you won't say anything."

Zale looked up at his assistant. His dark eyes flashed with the intense emotions raging within him. "I don't need help, Moril," he said. "Everything is as fine as it's ever been. I really don't know what gives you the idea that things are amiss."

"You're a good liar," Moril said with a wry smile, "but not that good. Something's bothering you."

"I had a run-in with Tarkin's goon squad last night, and they've trumped up murder charges against me. We're gonna have to make Tarkin realize that he can't pin things like that on crime syndicates. Hire a team, put distance between us and them, and hit the Yesdol Precinct. Oh, and those codes we got for Kaysa, cancel them. She doesn't need them anymore."

***

Kaysa burst through the doors of the White Noise, breathless and exhausted, but she wouldn't rest until the love of her life was safe. Her eyes quickly scanned the club, spotting only Chrik in the distance. The stage was empty and Kaysa feared Merrick had finished rehearsing for the day and had already headed for home. She rushed towards the surly proprietor who had his face in a drink and a cigarra protruding from the side of his mouth. "Chrik! Chrik, where's Merrick? I need to speak to Merrick. Where is he?!"

"Hold on to your hyperdrive, Kaysa," Chrik said as he swallowed down the last of his drink. Once he was satisfied he was no longer in danger of dying of thirst, he turned to her and smiled. He took in her appearance, and quirked an eyebrow at her bare feet, then put it all out of his mind. "Merrick is currently backstage with a guy from his production company. They're going over last minute information on his new album. Go on back. If Reigal gives you any trouble, just tell him to come see me."

Kaysa's relief manifested itself in the form of a gasp as she sped away from Chrik and headed backstage. Everything she'd worked so hard to achieve was slowly slipping away, and all because of her mistakes from the past, mistakes she thought she'd repented for.

She pushed open the backstage door and began hollering for Merrick with anguished cries. The guard, Reigal, started toward her, but then recognized her as Merrick's girlfriend...or one of them. She reached his dressing room door and pounded on it frantically. If she couldn't even overcome a locked door, Kaysa admitted to herself that she would have little chance of protecting both Merrick and Shiv, but not even a durasteel door was going to stop her from trying. "Merrick! Merrick are you there. Please!"

The door quickly opened and Merrick was standing there. His concern showed clearly in his eyes as he motioned Kaysa inside. He glanced at her and his worry grew at her attire. He glanced at her bare feet, and realized that Kaysa had been spending a considerable amount of time with Shiv lately. He was surprised the girl even owned shoes since she seemed to divest herself of them as quickly as she put them on. "I'm here," he said. "Is everything alright? You look a mess. Come in and I'll get some water. And, while I'm doing that, what's the matter?"

Kaysa flew into Merrick's arms and finally released the tears she'd been holding back. She vaguely noticed the man sitting across the room reviewing some documents; all she could focus on was how disastrous her life was becoming. "She's gone, Merrick. Shiv...she's gone."

Panic washed over Merrick's face at Kaysa's words. "Gone? Shiv? Oh my... What--? What happened? What happened to Shiv?" He glanced at Toril, the man at the table. "Just a moment," he added to Kaysa, and then stepped closer to the table and exchanged a few quiet words with the man. When Merrick stepped away, he gathered his papers and headed toward the door.

"Perhaps we can finish this tomorrow, Mr. Braston?"

"That'd be fine," Merrick said. "Thanks, Toril."

"I understand," the man said from the doorway. "I'll contact you tomorrow." He closed the door behind him, leaving Kaysa and Merrick alone together.

Merrick turned to Kaysa again, his face awash with anguish. "What happened?"

Kaysa's voice was nothing but sobs and choked cries. She sank into the nearest chair and covered her face with her hands. "I-I... Something terrible happened and...she had to go away, Merrick. She had to go..."

"I got the had to go part," Merrick said, "but what about the something happened. What happened, Kaysa?"

"Vrax, Merrick. Vrax..." Kaysa sobbed again and looked up at Merrick with tears streaming down her cheeks. "We fought...I fired him and... Oh gods, Merrick...the things he said he was going to do to her... I had to get her away before he had a chance! And you...I-I need to keep you safe. I have to keep you safe."

Merrick's features darkened as he took in what Kaysa was saying. "I see," he said. "You think Vrax will carry out his threats." He looked around the room and then took Kaysa back into his arms. "Do you have a plan?"

"Yes! I sent her away so he couldn't hurt her! And now...I need to keep you in my sights at all times. I could ask you to go away too, but I don't think I could handle this on my own." Kaysa held Merrick in a desperate embrace and buried her face into the crook of his neck. "You have to promise me you won't go anywhere alone. I know you think it's flamboyant and pretentious, but I want you to hire bodyguards, Merrick. Please. It's the only way I know how to keep you safe."

Merrick was quiet for a moment, then he kissed the top of her head as it was buried against the crook of his neck. "I'll hire bodyguards," he said. "And, I'll have better security systems installed around the apartment. I'll go for the full safety package, and I'll get started on it today. I know Chrik has a line on some really good guys to act as bodyguards for me. It'll be alright."

"It won't be alright until he's stopped, Merrick. I can't let Shiv come back until he's arrested or dead. I don't know how to stop him... I feel so helpless, Merrick. Oh gods..." Kaysa's cries grew louder and even more lamentable as she came to terms with how quickly her life was spinning out of control. "We...we could just leave this bloody place, but it would still never be over. He's insane, Merrick; he'd follow me throughout the galaxy just to get revenge. In fact, he's like me in many ways, unfortunately."

"Maybe...maybe we can hire someone to go after him," Merrick said. "Maybe we could...I can't believe I'm suggesting this, but maybe we could have someone track him down and have him arrested for his crimes or kill him so he won't bother us anymore."

"Hire a killer, Merrick?" Kaysa faced him with a deplorable stare and shook her head slowly. "No, Merrick. No matter how much I want that... It would only catch up to us in the end. If someone tracked it back to us, we'd never have peace. I'm so confused, Merrick. I don't know what to do. If he isn't stopped, we may never see Shiv again and you could be hurt and I will never have another restful night's sleep. I'm just too unsettled right now to think of a plan. I just wanna hold you and tell you how much I love you...and how much Shiv loves you. You don't know how hard it was to send her away. Oh, Merrick...it was horrible."

"I can imagine," he said as he held her. "Why don't we leave here and go back to the apartment. We can just stay there together for the rest of the night, and try to figure a way out of this. There has to be a way to stop Vrax that won't come back and hurt us too. There has to be one."

"Together, we'll find one, Merrick. I won't let him get away with this." Wiping away the burning tears, Kaysa got to her feet with Merrick's help and remained in his arms as they headed for the dressing room door. "I want you to just hold me tonight, Merrick. I don't know what I'd ever do without you. I love you so much."

"Well, let's hope there's never a situation in the future where you have to find out," Merrick said. He stopped by the door and kissed her. "I love you too, Kaysa. More than life itself, and together we'll get through this. I promise you."

Kaysa nodded her head solemnly then closed her eyes and leaned on Merrick as they headed through the doorway. She wanted to believe him, but she knew they could do nothing to stop Vrax without outside help. Zale was that help, but his actions were depraved and unforgivable, and Kaysa vowed never to speak or associate with him again, despite how much she needed him right now.

Things were right back where they started, with just she and Merrick, but no matter how fulfilling that had been before, there was a looming emptiness now, a void Shiv's loss had created. She couldn't tell her before, and was regretting not doing so, but in that moment when they parted, when she didn't know if she'd ever see her again, Kaysa realized how much she truly loved Shiv. The irony of it all was Shiv wouldn't know that now, and in times that would most likely be difficult for her, knowing Kaysa loved her was something that could have brought Shiv comfort during the darkest hours.

Knowing Shiv was safe, however, was solace enough for Kaysa, and having Merrick added to that. The one thing that would truly end her turmoil was knowing Vrax would never be able to hurt them. She needed only to find a way to rob him of the power he held over her, but only someone strong could accomplish that. Being steadied by Merrick as she walked, and being held firmly in his arms so she wouldn't falter only reasserted how weak she truly was. The weak couldn't vanquish the strong, and the harsh truth was, she'd never be able to stop Vrax on her own.

---

"Abduction"
by Maeren "Shiv" Shivral
and Unknown
Location: In Space
Date: Praeda 19, 4ABY

***

"Our plans are going well, my friend.".

In the darkness, he nodded. All was going according to plan, and the time for him to return from his seclusion was drawing closer. Oh how he yearned for that day, to see the faces of those who had done this to him. His strength had returned as promised, and much more beside. He felt alive in ways he'd never felt before. How they would tremble when he stood before them, his power displayed openly. He could feel their fear already. He could sense them cowering, trembling in the darkness he cast. "I have not felt strength like this in...in a very long time."

"And, as time progresses, your skills and strength will grow unsurpassed. Nothing can stand in our way now." There was a wicked gleam in the eyes of The Voice from the Darkness.

As he called the luminescent screens around him to life again, he smiled. The power they gave him...it was all intoxicating, and other men would have been drowned by it by now. "Is there any word of Kalaira? Did she make it clear?"

"Our agents have found no definitive signs of her survival, but there are still areas where we have not yet recast our eyes. If she lives, she will be found."

He nodded gravely. "If she lives, she will come to me. We have a connection, she and I. A bond. I do not know if she would share my new outlook toward this planet since my fall, but I am sure she will come around. Continue the searches for her."

"A wise decision."

He smiled. "I know."

His eyes scanned over the various holographic inputs displayed on the screens before him. He had eyes in every part of the major cities, especially the Starport in New Plouton. That would be a crucial location in his new rise to power. If he was going to remove the Empire from his planet, he'd need a place to legally land his ships, at least until he had the ground forces capable of storming Arcadia and retaking his palace. And, that meant getting the facility from Rennor Karradas. Or that was his plan until the recent news had made its way to him. A frown creased his face as he pondered his plan to get around Karradas' unfortunate death. He'd tapped into the Imperial systems and gleaned all the information he could. And, a plan had formed quickly. And, it would secure his place in the Starport and much more besides. Now he only had to put it into action.

The Voice moved closer. "Your recovery is complete," he said. "And, the entire planet will tremble before you now. We will be able to move again soon. Are your armies ready?"

"They are ready," he said. "They continue to train on the sixth moon of the eighth planet. They are ready, and looking forward to the task ahead of them. They won't have long to wait."

Before The Voice could speak again, they were interrupted by an incoming comm signal.

"It is your informant in New Plouton," The Voice said.

He opened a channel and the man's face appeared on the screen before him. "You have news?"

"I do," the man said, his angry glare not intended for anyone in particular, but for everyone. "The bitch just fired me, and my usual tactics to get back in failed this time. She's grown a backbone." Then he smiled. "But, that little bitch-whore she keeps with her just fled there like a nerf running from a rancor. I did some checking, and it appears she's got her ship heading out to Tatooine. She'll be leaving Tae'Karada within an hour."

He laughed. "My threats worked, and it won't take much more before Kaysa Zenarr crumbles completely. I still don't understand your interest in her."

He smiled again, happy at Draydge's report. "So Maeren Shivral has run, and she's leaving for Tatooine?" He hadn't planned for that but it worked into his goals perfectly. Perhaps Vrax's obsession with destroying the girl who had succeeded where his own lusts had failed was useful. "You have done well, Vrax. Your actions today have furthered my plans, and soon the Starport will be within my grasp. Perhaps I'll make you a general in my army."

Vrax's eyes went up at that. "A general? Me? I like the sound of that."

He smiled. "I knew you would. I want you to go to the base on the moon now and wait their for my instructions. You have done well, Vrax. I expected failure, but you have shown your true strengths."

With that, he cut the connection. Before the words had even left his mouth, the plan had formed. He would be seated on his throne again by the end of the month.

***

Shiv had stopped crying long enough to get the Stiletto off the planet and out into space. The ship felt cold and empty, and the fact that she wore only a shirt did nothing to gain any extra warmth. If only she'd had the time to grab clothes. She'd have to get something once she got to Tatooine.

She'd laid in her course and now only had to get to the edge of the system before activating the hyperdrive. If Stiletto held together that long. She grumbled with frustration as the system drive cut out and slammed a fist into the control board. With a spluttering cough, the drive came back online.

"Piece a junk."

When she was just five hundred thousand kilometers from the edge of the system, she verified the hyperdrive settings and counted off the seconds until she could make the jump. She felt the tears coming again as she realized what she was about to do. It took all of her strength not to open the comm to contact Kaysa. Or Merrick. How was she going to get by? How would she survive without the loves of her life, and the two people who had any hope of grounding her wild spirit in reality? She needed them, and the pain at fleeing was intense. She wiped the tears away and moved to activate the hyperdrive.

The entire ship suddenly lurched throwing her forward. An impact. Stiletto dropped along her vertical axis, propelled by whatever just blasted them. Someone was shooting at her! She threw the ship into evasive maneuvers while she simultaneously brought up sensors and a damage report.

Three ships were angling in on an attack vector. The first shot had taken out the hyperdrive; she wasn't leaving the system any time soon. With a curse, she threw the ship into a roll that took her away from the searching fire trying to turn her into space debris. Fear had settled in her stomach like a ball of ice, but her survival instinct quickly melted that into nothing. Another blast rocked the ship. They were getting far too close. Stiletto lurched forward, and a flashing indicator on the console told her one of the starboard sublight engines was out.

Shiv dropped the ship, suddenly seeming much more bulky with one of it's engines gone, along the vertical axis, but her attackers stayed with her. She opened a comm to send a message to the Imperial Star Destroyers hovering in orbit over Tae'Karada, but found only garbled static. Jamming! The bastards were jamming her! The fear returned full force and Shiv found her thoughts suddenly turning to Merrick and Kaysa. She tried her best to quash the defeatist images flashing through her mind and concentrated on getting away. If only she'd been more focused earlier, she would have seen them coming and could have gotten away.

She banked hard to port, barely escaping twin blasts from two of her pursuers. Unfortunately, she didn't see that one of the ships had broken off, anticipating her move, and was waiting. She felt a hard thud against the hull, and even more power dispersed as another of her starboard engines went down. Stiletto was unbearably sluggish, and she knew she had to break back for the planet or there'd be nothing left of her or Stiletto.

The three ships swarmed together, and came at her again as she veered toward the planet. She poured on as much speed as possible, but as they closed, she knew it wasn't enough. Lances of searching fire skimmed across the hull, sending jarring shudders through the ship. Another blast rocked the ship again, sending a shower of sparks up around the cockpit. Shiv looked down in panic as the board went red. A warning klaxon sounded through the ship. All engines were down. She tried to push the ship forward with thrusters but quickly found that she had no directional control. Stiletto was dead in space.

There was a harsh clanging on the hull and the ship lurched to a stop. Grapples, she thought. She quickly fled the cockpit after seeing two of the ships coming around to cover Stiletto while the third attached to the outer hatch. She moved to one of the lockers in the main cabin and grabbed a pair of blades. She took up a defensive stance in front of the hatch and waited. She was going to make someone hurt today.

A searing light filled the cabin as the torch started burning through the hatch. After a couple moments of tense waiting, it exploded inward, causing Shiv to flinch back from the shower of sparks. The entryway suddenly filled with men in black armour, blasters held ready. One of them looked her over, standing in a defensive crouch, barefoot and wearing only a large shirt, and then laughed. One man who had an insignia different from the others, and Shiv figured him to be the leader, stepped forward. Without preamble, he fired his blaster and series of blue rings of coalesced energy knocked Shiv unconscious immediately.

The leader signaled two of his men to grab her and bring her along. "His Lordship will wish to see her immediately," he said. "He has plans for her."

One of the men stepped up. "What about the ship, sir? Shall we destroy it?"

"Let it drift," the leader said. "That's part of the plan. The girl's absence is to be noticed. Let's go."

With that, they left Stiletto drifting lifeless in space, and fled back toward the eighth planet of the system.

***

"The girl has been captured," The Voice said calmly. "She's being taken to the moon now. Your ship is prepared."

He smiled as he felt the plan resolving itself around him. Soon, he told himself, soon it will all be mine again.

"We still have no word of the other one, Evie's sister," The Voice said. "We still have our spies searching. If the high princess were still around, she would be able to lure the girl here. Or perhaps Evie could have had she not--"

"I know," he snapped. "I know all of that, that is why we search for her."

The Voice stepped forward, into the light and faced him. In the harsh light offered by the screens surrounding the room, his white hair shone like cold fire while his eyes were no more than pools of shadow. "You will not take that tone with me. I saved you from that hell you experienced and gave you renewed life. Do not make me turn this into a lesson."

He nodded slowly toward The Voice, accepting his position and the debt owed to him. "Elisia will be found soon, and we will end the charade. Once our power is combined, the new Empire shall be born and nothing shall stand in our way." It was only a matter of time.

---

"Unlikely Friends"
by Nieme Yaresh
Kael Selrid
and Orn Gham [NPC]
Location: Thanatos, Tae'Karada
Date: Praeda 19, 4ABY

***

The dream came again last night. This time, however, Kael was the focus of it. She didn't know if it was because of their encounter that night or if the dream really was about him. Either way, he was there again and it frightened her. Instead of the darkness falling upon him, it was a thick cascade of blood. Even in her dream, she could smell it and when she awoke, the pungant odour still lingered in the air, but it was stamped out quickly by the odour of her own vomit. She still had no idea what the dream meant if it meant anything at all, but she wouldn't find peace until she'd discovered why the dreams were coming to her.

"Nieme, you can start cleaning up," Orn called out to her from the front. "It's a slow night and we can close up early. Have yourself some dinner before you go if you like."

Nieme nodded her head absently. She'd performed much better than the other night, but she still couldn't focus on work, but at least she hadn't burnt any Hojet tonight. Her every thought was focused on Kael. She was almost disgusted with him and his actions, but another part of her was intrigued. She was ashamed of that part of herself.

Nieme shook her head and managed to snap out of her reverie long enough to turn off the range and tidy up the kitchen. She served herself up a plate of scrambled Dernian eggs and moved listlessly from the kitchen into the partially deserted dining area. The crowds were small tonight, which meant there'd been less meals to cook and less mistakes that were made. She needed to get herself out of the abyss her mind had delved into and return to the world of the living again.

She set her plate upon a vacated table in a small corner of the diner and took a seat. She sighed wistfully as she gazed into the food resting on her plate. She had no appetite and no desire to do anything but think about her dreams and that glorious place she'd visited. Everything in life, now, seemed pointless.

Nieme pushed the food around in her plate and thinking back to the forest again, she felt the tears welling up as they had done so many times over the past two days. Her resolve slowly crumbled the more she thought about the dream, but she didn't know why she had such a fervent desire to return to a place she'd only visited in her dreams, or what it was about that place that meant so much to her. Stuck in the desert, she doubted she'd ever find that forest and discover why that temple was calling to her.

Nieme pushed her plate aside just as a twisting discomfort arose in her stomach. It was the same sensation she encountered the time she'd seen Kael brutalizing the boy in the street, and the same she'd felt when she met Kael the other night. Would she never be free of the torment, the one brought on by memories of her dream, and that she'd encountered while talking with Kael? She was in a perpetual state of torture and pain; each day of it, life was becoming more and more burdensome.

Kael pushed through the door of The Rhack and strode inside. It was strange going without the rest of the gang, or even a few of them. He'd decided to go alone tonight. Their company had been too unbearable for him to withstand for an entire night. The noise they made was nearly deafening and the constant pressure of their needfulness of his attention exhausted him.

He nodded to Orn and moved quickly to one of the booths in the back. On his way there, he noticed a group of three people sitting in the table his gang usually occupied. He shook his head and let them stay. He dropped into the bench and picked up the menu. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl sitting there. Nieme was her name, and she was staring straight ahead with a plate of untouched food sitting in front of her. He thought about approaching, but remembered the other night and decided she probably didn't want to talk to him. She'd probably just make him feel like some type of brutal thug who only revelled in violence and destruction. There was an order to his violence, and it served a purpose. He wasn't a thug. He wasn't. Was he?

Kael sighed and closed his eyes. What was wrong with him?

The wrenching in her stomach grew more intense and Nieme wrapped her arms around her waist to try and soothe the aches. She looked around the diner bleary-eyed when she spotted the probable source of her discomfort. He was a solitary figure, sitting alone across the room, with his brow furrowed and his eyes clenched shut. She could feel the confusion and anguish emanating from him, and recognized it as precisely the sensations she was feeling. She concentrated on him, staring while he sat motionless as a cloud of darkness surrounded him. He was without his gang, which surprised her. They went everywhere together, it seemed.

Nieme continued gazing at him while clutching her stomach. What was the source of his distress? Whatever it was, it was so powerful, his emotions were radiating throughout the entire diner. "Kitchen's closed," Nieme called out quietly. "I'm the cook and...well...I'm not in the kitchen."

"I'm not really hungry," he replied. "At least not anymore. If I have to order something to sit here, I'll have a sebla water with a twist of zasp." He turned and looked at her. "I'm sorry about the other night. I shouldn't have followed after you like that. Won't happen again."

Nieme nodded her head slowly and looked away. Even in his eyes, she could see the utter disarray his mind was in. She didn't know what had happened to him since she'd last seen him, but he truly appeared a different person...a dejected person. Nieme looked down into her plate, then back at Kael and sighed. She slid out of her chair and picked up her plate. Slowly, hesistantly, she carried it over to Kael's table and set it down. "Dernian eggs. It's one of my specialties. I...I wasn't going to eat it, so if you're hungry..."

Kael looked at the plate and nodded. "Thanks," he said. He picked up a fork and slowly sampled a bite. "It's good." He looked up at her. "You can sit if you want."

"Uh..." Nieme took a step back and looked down at Kael uncertainly. "I don't know if I can. You're...you're all darkness and bleakness today. It hurts." Nieme tried to swallow back the pain, but the closer she drew to Kael, the stronger the discomfort became. "Why are you so sombre today?"

Kael looked up at her and frowned. "Hurts? I...I don't really know," he said, not entirely understanding her meaning. "I guess it's I've just been thinking of some of the things you said the other night. It's the most anyone's said to me like that. Most people are just scared of me and don't talk. I don't know."

Nieme fought against the pain within and lumbered towards the empty chair. She sank into it and winced as all Kael's awry emotions hit her with a jolt. She looked at him and feeling all he felt, truly sympathized with him. "I didn't mean to cause you so much confusion. I just... I'm not afraid of you. I know you're not evil, but you're so...dark and... I'm just sorry."

"I've never questioned myself before," Kael said. "I've always been certain of what I wanted and how I was going to get it. But, what you said...it made me start thinking. Maybe there is a better way to reach my goal. I don't know how to get there though. I don't know where to start; this is all I've ever known."

"It wasn't right of me to say those things to you, though. I...I was frustrated and angry, but not at you." The churning in Nieme's stomach was beginning to subside, yet she felt a different kind of sickness now, one brought on by the memory of what she'd said to Kael. She was cruel and judgmental; it wasn't like her at all and she hated herself for being so to Kael. Nieme gazed at him for a moment until she lost her nerve and looked away. He was different from the rest; while they were almost completely engulfed by darkness, he still had some light left in him, one that was quickly fading. She didn't know why, but she was determined to help him, even if she wasn't completely comfortable around him yet. "Where are your friends?" she asked quietly, deciding to stare at her hands instead of his face.

"They're out somewhere," he said. "I wanted a little more quiet tonight, so I'm by myself. I came here because I figured they wouldn't be here. I didn't know it'd be so quiet here, not that I'm complaining, mind you. Quiet is good tonight." He looked up at her. "So, where'd you learn to cook like this?" He indicated the plate. "You're good. I imagine one day you could probably have your own restaurant."

"My caretaker, Fytha, taught me. She said I had a talent for it, but..." Nieme shrugged her shoulders and began picking nervously at a scratch in the table. She wasn't accustomed to conversing with anyone and wasn't exactly adept at it. She sat in silence for what seemed an uncomfortably long time, until it was broken by Orn's voice.

"Hey, Selrid. Where're your pals? Decided to go rob a shop without you?" Orn strode over to the table, but he slowed his pace and laughed dryly as he noticed Nieme keeping company with the Feltrey. It wasn't something he approved of, especially not when it was his best chef associating with the criminal. "Nieme, I thought you'd gone home? It's getting late," he said with a tight smile. "Shouldn't you be getting going?"

Nieme looked up at Orn shyly, and once she saw the stern expression on his face urging her to heed his instructions, she nodded her head quickly. "You're right. I...I should go." She pushed her chair back clumsily and rose. She looked down at Kael for a moment and opened her mouth to vocalize a goodbye, but only a squeak escaped before she rushed away.

Orn had his hand on Kael's shoulder, holding him down into his chair before he decided to follow Nieme out. He leaned over until his mouth was next to Kael's ear, and in a threatening whisper, said, "You stay away from her, Selrid. She's a good kid and she doesn't need to get hurt or killed because you've suddenly taken a fancy to her. Just leave her alone, alright?"

Kael's first impulse was to grab the man's hand and twist it until the wrist was near snapping. But, Nieme's words haunted his thoughts, and he couldn't bring himself to do it. He kept his eyes straight ahead as he tried to cool his anger, tried to find anything in the darkness to lead him toward the single brightness in the distance. "She isn't gonna get hurt by me," he snarled. "And, it's not going to be one of my friends. They know I'd-- They know not to mess with her, or we won't be back here again, and they know I like the Hojet here."

"And you and your friends are always welcome here, that is unless you cause trouble. Messing with Nieme is considered causing trouble in my book, so don't do it." Orn patted Kael's shoulder and shot him a cold smile. "It's closing time. Thank you for your patronage. Come again."

"We were just talking," Kael said as he pushed away from the table. "Nothin' else, just talking." With a grumble he headed to the door and pushed his way out onto the street. "She was just trying to help me sort through my thoughts," he muttered to himself as he started out across the street while fishing in a pocket for a cigarra.

"He's just being overprotective, you know," Nieme called out gently. She moved away from the shadows she'd sought shelter in and into the gentle light cast by the moon. "I never listen to him though."

Kael turned to her and tried to smile. "Well, I don't often either," he said. "He just sees me as Kael Selrid the Feltrey gang leader, and he thinks I'm just gonna beat you up and take your money. That's what they all think when they see me. I'm not like that though. Not entirely. It just gets hard to be anything else when no one will let you escape yourself."

"Well, I guess it's a good thing I don't listen much to what other people say then. I suppose I'll leave it up to you to tell me who you are." Nieme watched Kael for a moment before looking down the deserted street and gesturing for Kael to follow as she started away from the Rhack. "I wanna show you something."

Kael quickly moved to catch up. "I usually hear, but don't listen," he said. "But, sometimes you hear something so often, it's hard to keep it from sinking in a little bit. I usually try to not let it get to me, but lately... I don't know." He looked around as he walked just behind her. "Where we going?"

"I guess you could call it a private sanctuary of sorts. I go there whenever the dreams become too overwhelming." Nieme fought back the despair mention of the dreams always brought her and looked back at Kael. "Do you have...dreams, Kael? I mean, strange ones, vivid ones that haunt you even when you're awake?"

Kael shook his head. "Not very often," he said. "And, not very vivid. Usually, I just saw a pair of eyes watching me. But, sometimes they do haunt me when I'm awake, seeing them watching me. I've had it more frequently lately."

"Well, I--I've had the dreams too, recently." She looked away from Kael and stammered nervously. "It's...it's of a place - a forest. I've never been there before and I don't know where it is, but there's a man there with the bluest eyes I've ever seen. There's a woman too. She's so beautiful..." Nieme sighed softly and closed her eyes as she transported herself back to that place. "You were there too," she whispered, lost in the visions surfacing in her mind. "I don't know why, but you belong there. It's almost as if, without you, the dream isn't complete. Nothing's complete without you." Nieme opened her eyes quickly and gasped at her words. She hastened her steps and motioned Kael along. "We're almost there," she said quietly.

Kael nodded slowly as they continued. "Blue eyes," he asked. "In my...in my dream, I saw blue eyes, but that's all. And, uh, and your eyes. I know they were your eyes." He looked at her. "I haven't had dreams of forests. I only ever saw a picture a couple times. Sort of a goal for what I'd like to see here."

"I think Thanatos is a beautiful place, even though others think of it as a wasteland for the forsaken. I think if they opened themselves up, they too could see how wonderful Thanatos is." Nieme gave a short laugh and quickly looked away from Kael. "Here it is," she whispered almost excitedly. She hurried towards the entrance of the small, delapidated stone building and ushered Kael inside. "It's alright. No one lives here."

Kael slipped inside the building and looked around. It was fairly dark inside, and he could feel the touch of the day's warmth still held in the stone. He could sense a calming as he moved further inside. He also realized that the sounds out on the street were muffled and distant, hardly audible at all. In all the time he'd spent in Thanatos, he couldn't remember it ever being this calm. "This is nice," he said. "I've lived here every day of my life, but I've never heard it this quiet, this serene. Compared to the life I've known, it's so alien."

"That's why I come here when I need to escape. I just feel like I've been transported to another place where only I exist...and the stars." Nieme craned her neck up towards the open ceiling and pointed to the sky above. "That is why I come here." She looked back down to Kael and took his hand. "This way." She led him to a small stack of crates, leading to the next floor of the small structure. The stairs originally leading to the floor had collapsed, and debris from it mingled with that of the roof that had caved in long ago. "I found this place when I was hiding from one of the rape gangs one night. I've come back ever since."

With his eyes still turned upwards, he nodded solemnly. "It's a good place," he said. "And, they won't come in here. Too likely to get trapped inside." He was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry you had to hide from them. I wish they could just go away. My gang, we usually knock heads with the rape gangs. There's got to be another way to stop them. Violence to stop violence... There has to be something else. There has to be a way to make the people here feel safe in their homes and on the streets."

"There's always a way," Nieme called down as she began mounting the crates. "I mean, we may not see it in our lifetime, but Thanatos can shed its notorious reputation. It's a shame that reputation has been built only on gossip from the mouths of the foreigners. They just don't see the beauty in Thanatos." Nieme climbed onto the top floor and held out a hand to Kael. "The view's even better up here."

Kael took her hand and started up the crates after her. "I want to find a way to make it happen so I can see it," he said. "I want to see our people peaceful and happy, and proud to be here. I want to see the rest of the world accept us for who we are and what we can contribute. I want Thanatos to be free."

"We will only be free if we break out of this cycle of violence we've gotten trapped into." Nieme pulled Kael up and helped him onto the top level. She knelt before him and smiled gently. "With more people like you, we can be free. I misjudged you, Kael. You're not a blood thirsty thug. You just don't know how to be any other way, but your desire for freedom drives you to do such things. We just need to help you find another way to achieve your goal...our goal."

"I'll gladly take another path if it'll help our people," Kael said. "I guess even if it doesn't help our people, it's better than where I've been. But, some of those people, the rape gangs especially, they need to be stopped. My ways may not have been the best way, but they did stop them. Some of them at least. It seems like Thanatos is more about gangs. It seems like every kid wants to join a gang as soon as they're old enough now. Maybe someday all the gangs can be stopped."

"I guess everyone wants to belong somewhere, and being in a gang makes them feel safer and not so...lonely." Nieme smiled wanly and pushed herself to her feet. "It's not so bad being alone, you know," she said quietly as she moved towards an empty opening in the wall serving as a window. "I've been on my own for seven years and I'm doing fine...I think," she muttered quietly to herself. Nieme curled up onto the ledge of the window and looked out upon the quiet streets of Thanatos. Everyone was alone here; that's why it was so easy to kill another without any qualms. Kael was wrong about the gangs. If more people gathered together like the gangs did, but instead of opposing each other, they cooperated, there would be less violence in Thanatos; it made it harder to kill someone you knew and depended on. Nieme knew it was probably an unattainable dream, but she knew better than anyone that some dreams do become realized.

"I've been on my own since I was five," Kael said. "My parents were killed in a dispute with a New Plouton border guard. They needed to buy some produce they couldn't find in Thanatos, so they left me with a friend. They never came back. I found out a week later. I joined my first gang two years after. I did chores and such until I was old enough, and then they started taking me along. I've survived, but I don't know if that's fine or not."

"I never knew who my parents were," Nieme began wistfully as her eyes stared fixedly at the stars above. "Sometimes, in my dreams, I see two people - a man, and a woman - and there's a part of me that is vaguely aware of who they are, that maybe thinks they're my parents, but, it's just a dream." Nieme looked down at Kael and gestured him over. She made room on the ledge for him and smiled easily. "Have you ever taken the time to just stop and look at the stars? They really are beautiful."

Kael sat next to Nieme on the ledge and looked up. "Not really," he said. "I've only ever glanced, never looked. I know people go up there all the time, travelling around to planets and stars, but it just seems so far away. Do you think you'll ever go up there? Would you want to?"

Nieme shook her head with a shy smile. "I don't know if I'll ever even leave Thanatos, let alone Tae'Karada. But they're just as beautiful looking up at them as they probably are when you're out among them." Nieme sighed and brought her legs up onto the ledge, pulling her knees close to her body. "In space, though, there isn't night and day, which is a shame. Have you ever stayed up all night, just waiting for the sun to rise? I mean, there's always this moment when day and night meet, when neither one really exists as a separate entity. I don't know if there's a name for that moment or not, but it's that time when the sun just barely peeks out from the horizon, and the moon and stars have just barely faded into non-existence. When I think of you," Nieme said softly, "it reminds me of that moment. You're neither night nor day, Kael, but you harbour both the elements of darkness and light. That's what frightens me about you sometimes. See, day always inevitably becomes night, and night, day; they only really exist on their own. Existing in you, opposing elements as one, is a complete aberration. To regain the balance, they must eventually deviate from one another and exist as separate entities. That day will come soon for you, Kael," Nieme said as she looked at him inquisitively, "when you must choose whether to walk in the darkness or the light, to become day or night, and when it does, what will your choice be?"

Kael sighed as he stared up into the sky. "I've spent my entire life in darkness," he said. "I'm ready to stand in daylight. If the choice is mine to make, I want to walk in the light."

"As I look at you now, though, Kael, you walk both. That's why I ran from you the other night, and that's why it pained me to be near you tonight. I'm afraid you'll stumble and fall on the wrong side of the path...and that...you'll pull me down with you." Nieme stared at Kael and for a moment, she felt herself pulled into his eyes, engulfed by his pain and struggle. Blood...everything was blood, as he had been in her dream. Nieme gasped and slipped of the ledge quickly. She had to clench her eyes shut to sever the link as the taste of blood filled her mouth. Any longer, and she feared she would have drowned in it. "You--you've been tainted. But you can wash yourself clean, Kael. You must..." she said in a frightened whisper.

Kael looked up at her and sighed. "I don't know how," he said. "All I've known is what's out there. I don't know how I'm supposed to do it."

The despair in his voice was almost tangible to Nieme and she opened her eyes slowly to see the same despair expressed on his face. She sighed softly and moved closer to Kael again. She stood before him, looking down at him and reached her hand out to him before pulling it back out of hesitation. "Being in a gang whose favourite pasttime is going to Taralagne Square and getting into brawls with the other local gangs isn't helping your situation," Nieme said genuinely and with no criticism in her voice. "I know what it's like to be alone and you probably don't want to give up your friends readily, but that's the only first step I can think of - unless you convince them to change their ways as well and instead of contributing to the violence, you find some way to help stop it."

Kael looked up into the eyes that were familiar from his dreams. "I'll see what I can do with them," he said. "I don't think they'd go willingly along a path that didn't lead to blood, but I may be able to convince them. Otherwise, I may have to do something I never thought I would do. But, if I'm hurting Thanatos with my actions, then I can't go on like that."

As she gazed into his eyes, Nieme caught a glimpse of the passion, the hopefulness in them and she couldn't help but smile. "Even if they abandon you, Kael," Nieme said softly as she finally gathered courage enough to place her hand upon his shoulder, "you won't truly be alone. I mean...I can help...if you want my help."

Kael smiled. "Thanks," he said. "I think I may need it. I have no doubt that things will get rough for me out there, and I'll need a friend who can keep me level." He covered her hand with his and then glanced up to the sky again.

They sat for several long minutes in silence. "If Orn saw the two of us sitting here like this, he'd probably throw rocks at me or try to run me off. I guess it's good he doesn't know about this place."

Nieme casually pulled her hand free of Kael's and laughed nervously as she took a seat on the sill again. "No one knows about this place. And don't mind Orn. I guess he just feels he needs to protect me. I am the best chef in Thanatos, as he says." Nieme followed Kael's eyes up to the part of the sky he was gazing at and smiled. "That one's called Domega's chariot. Do you see it?" Nieme pointed in the direction of the constellation and slowly traced the pattern of it out with her finger. She looked at Kael's quizzical expression and laughed softly. She shifted closer to him and took his hand trepidly. "See..." She held up his hand towards the sky, and with his finger extended, traced out the constellation again. "Domega's chariot. There's a tale that goes along with it, but I won't bother you with that."

After a moment of looking past where Nieme was tracing with his finger, he saw it. "Yeah," he said. "There it is. Do you know the names of all the stars?" He glanced at her with a quizzical expression. "You're very smart. I mean, you know a lot. And, it's not all just book smart. You're...you're wise."

Nieme shrugged her shoulders and released Kael's hand slowly. "I know a lot about cooking and stars...not much else though. I've never been to school and I can read some, but that's only because my caretaker taught me. Other than that, I don't know much really."

"You know that violence isn't the way to solve the problem here," he said. "And, you know how to avoid the gangs. You know more than me anyway."

"Well, I bet you know a lot of things I don't. Besides, you know that violence is a dead end too, it just took a while to realize it, that's all." Nieme pulled her cloak more tightly around her and sat back against the frame of the window. "What will you do tomorrow? Will you go back to your friends?"

Kael shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I'll have to say something to them, and they'll want to talk me out of it. I think I'm gonna need some time to think about things. But, I'll have to deal with them. I guess that'll be my real test."

"If you need, you know, anyone to talk to..." Nieme smiled at Kael and looked away quickly. "You won't be able to talk to me at the Rhack but I'm usually home during the day or wandering around Thanatos, if you need anyone to talk to."

"I'm not sure I'll be too welcome in the Rhack anymore," he said. "Orn's really taken a dislike to me, it seems. Especially after the last time I was there. I think I may have pushed him too far. So, I'll probably have to see you around some time if we cross paths. If I need someone to talk to, I'll find you."

"I usually come here on my way home from work, so if you need to find me..." Nieme looked up at the stars again and laughed quietly. "You know, you're the only person in almost ten years that I've had a conversation with lasting more than a minute. How'd I do?"

Kael laughed. "I think you did good," he said. "Though, I don't think I'm exactly an expert on conversations. But, from my experience, it was a good one. I know I'm walking a fine line between light and darkness, and I know where I want to be. But, I think I'll need your help making sure I don't fall the other way."

Nieme smiled and nodded her head quickly. "I'd be glad to help." She once again looked up into the stars and thought about the story of Domega's chariot. It seemed fitting, somehow, to the situation Kael had found himself in suddenly. She began slowly tracing out the constellation again as she absently recited the story. "Domega was on a quest of sorts too. He was trying to find his way home after a long journey. He encountered many struggles and obstacles along the way and almost faltered and veered off the path many a time, but he perservered and with his determination and strength of will, he finally made it home." Nieme fixed her eyes back on Kael and smiled at him brightly. "So you see, anything's possible really. Even you can find your way home, Kael."

"Well," Kael said, "I hope my journey will be similar to Domega's. I know it will be a long and difficult time, but I want to make it work."

"You will stumble, though, as Domega did, but if you truly want to change, no one can fault you for losing your way from time to time." Nieme rose from the window sill and smiled down at Kael. "You're welcome here whenever you need some time alone. It's yours as much as it is mine, now. It can be your private sanctuary too. And whenever you do come here, if you're feeling like you're about to lose your way, just find Domega, and you'll get back on the path again."

Kael nodded. "Thank you, Nieme," he said. "I've never had anyone willing to help me like this, and it means very much to me that you are. I'll try to not let you down. And, I won't let anyone know about this place. I'll make sure that I'm always alone, and not followed when I come."

"Thanks. I want this place to remain a secret...between us, now." Nieme could do nothing to force back a yawn, and once it passed, she smiled sleepily at Kael. "I should head home now. It's very late and I better get indoors before the rest of the gangs come out."

Kael slipped off the ledge and stood over Nieme. His eyes were bright and in them could be seen the unmistakable gleam of hopefulness. "Thank you for listening; and thank you for being a friend. If you want, I can walk with you...to make sure you get home safe."

Nieme looked up timidly at Kael and being so near to him, she had to crane her neck up to meet his gaze. She smiled and looked away, feeling suddenly shy and unworthy of the gratitude he was extending upon her. "Y-You don't have to thank me. And...and if you wanna stay here tonight, for a while, or whatever, you can. I'm sure I can make it home safely on my own."

"If you're sure," he said. "I think I may stay here for a little while. I should get back to my friends tonight though. Well, not really to them. Mainly I want to get back to my baitar. I'm not all that good, but it helps me unwind and think."

"You play a baitar?" Nieme asked with an uncontained smile. "That...that's my favourite instrument." Nieme laughed nervously and took a step back to put some distance between them. "Well, anyway, take all the time you need here. I'll be fine. And if I do encounter trouble, I'll...I'll run away as fast as I can like I did the other night. Then I'll hide; I'm a good hider. I almost eluded you, didn't I? Except I came out too soon, and I hadn't expected you to cut me off like that..." Nieme laughed uncomfortably and covered her mouth with her hand to stop her ramblings. She edged backwards towards the crates and finally pulled her hand away, trusting herself not to stammer and ramble. "All I meant to say was that I'll be fine."

Kael smiled, and then, unable to control it, laughed. "Good," he said. "I wouldn't want you getting hurt out there. I mean, we're just getting to be friends. I guess I'll see you later, Nieme. Thanks for the eggs earlier. They were good."

"You laughed," Nieme said with surprise. "I mean, I haven't known you that long so I don't know if that's a common thing for you or not..." Nieme took a deep breath and smiled. "It was a good sound, that's all. And anytime you want eggs, just come by the Rhack and I'll make them for you. They're one of my specialties." Nieme stepped down onto the first crate and smiled back at Kael. "You're more than just a thug, Kael. Much more. Thanks for proving me wrong about you."

Kael smiled and shrugged as if it were a common thing. "Sure," he said, fearing that he might be blushing. "I'm happy to have proved you wrong in that. And, I'll be sure to stop by the Rhack. Next time I'd like to finish them before Orn kicks me out and closes shop."

"He was just giving you a hard time. As long as you stay away from me in his presence, you can have as much Dernian eggs as you want." Nieme hopped off the last crate and stared up at Kael. She laughed quietly to herself as flares of bright, almost ethereal light reached out from Kael and alighted the darkness around him. It wasn't enough to completely drive away the shadows, but Nieme knew it was a first, important step. "You don't hurt anymore. I mean, you're not all pain and gloom now. I like you this way."

Kael's smile brightened further. "I like me this way too," he said. "Thank you for helping me find this part of me. I'll try to stay less painful from now on."

Nieme opened her mouth to say something else cryptic and foolish, but decided against it and merely smiled again as she walked backwards towards the door. "Well...good night, Kael Selrid."

"Good night, Nieme...Nieme," he said with a smile. "I'll stop by the Rhack tomorrow night. I won't say anything, but I'll give you a little wave if you look out from the kitchen."

"If I feel you come in, I'll make sure to make an appearance for you." Nieme smiled and gave a short wave before she hurried out of the run-down building and into the darkness. She could see the moon beginning to fade as the sun threatened to peek out from the horizon. This was the moment she was telling Kael about. She stood alone in the streets, watching and waiting for that moment when night would become day.

As the sun's beams finally penetrated the darkness and began to consume it, she smiled to herself as day won out over night, just as it was always meant to. She hoped the light in Kael would win out over the darkness. But just as the sun struggled to break out and conquer the night, she knew Kael would continue to struggle with the darkness within him. With her help though, hopefully he could banish the shadows for good and help the light finally emerge.

---

"A Search Complete"
by Alisson Blair - Jedi Knight
and Kalaira - High Princess
Location: New Plouton
Date: Praeda 19, 4 ABY

It had been days since she had left in search of the High Princess. Her former master, Kal'Aran had told her about the High Princess having survived. She knew somehow that he was right. The Imperial Admiral Tarkin had not been able to catch the High Princess and she had escaped. So there was still Royal family, which was the closest thing that Alisson had to her own, apart from Kal'Aran.

Already had she covered all the secret royal hiding locations. Of course those could be in jeopardy because it was possible that some high ranking officer had granted Tarkin that information. Still, there were no Imperial traces found in those same locations.

Alisson was about to head back to New Plouton when she felt something. It was a location strong with the Force. It was possible that it could be a former Jedi shrine of some sort or a very lively place in the Force stream. She decided to check it out further.

Descending in her Slave II vessel she set it down near the location. As soon as she got there she was met by a man in a Royal Guard uniform. He was pointing a blaster rifle at her. "Hands up!" he demanded. Alisson did just so and turned around slowly.

"I am Alisson Blair, former personal aide to the Royal Family and a Jedi Knight. What is this location?" she asked.

"I don't care who you are! You should not have come!" he shouted.

"Is the High Princess here? It is of my belief she is still alive..."

"You should not have come..." the guard said. It was obvious to Alisson that he was about to shoot and that to him she was a threat.

She waved her hand gently. "You will calm down. I am not your enemy and mean you no harm... You will grant me pass."

The man looked confused. "I will calm down. You are not my enemy and mean no harm... I will grant you pass," he repeated.

Alisson passed by him walking casually and entered the place. Inside she found the High Princess. Alisson smiled and sighed in relief. "Your Highness, I have searched for you for so long! I feared the Imperial Guards had caught you as they did the others, but only recently found it to not be so..." she said as she bowed respectfully.

Kalaira sighed. If ever Tarkin found her and sent a dark force user, she was dead. If this woman could just walk in here, she was going to have to find guards that were force resistant. "Welcome, Alisson. I don't suppose you can tell me it was at least a small challenge to just walk up to my person." Kalaira's smile was warm but her eyes held a sadness that would not be easily remedied.

"Actually it was sheer luck your Highness..." Alisson stated. "I was indeed looking for you but came here only because this place, it is strong with the Force and I came to see what it was. Luckily I found you. I can only conclude that this means that the Force wanted it so."

She could see the High Princess was acting strangely. "I must admit that I used my Jedi training in persuasion to force the guard at the entrance to let me in, but only because I did not mean harm. If that was wrong then I apologise, but I could not let pass the opportunity to find you..."

Kalaira smiled and went to Alisson and hugged her. "I am glad you are here. It is just a concern that one force strong can manipulate my gate guards so easily." Kalaira hugged her again. "I don't suppose once you have rested, you would test my guards and find some for the gate not so easily manipulated?"

Alisson nodded. "I will do as you ask and see to it that the guards at the gate aren't easily manipulated. But you should not fear too much. Sith do not have the capability to bend the will of the weak minded through the Force. Although they do have their own means of persuasion..." she said.

"I have become a Jedi Knight over time. My training is complete," Alisson informed the High Princess. "I would be glad and honoured to serve you once more. After all I owe you a great many deal of things and you are the closest thing I would call my own family. Tell me, what brings you here your Highness?"

Kalaira smiled. "I was drawn here by the fact that you can't see it on scanners. Makes it hard for Tarkin to find."

"I see..." Alisson said. "Well, I am sure that Master Kal'Aran would be pleased to know that you are indeed well as he had foreseen." She smiled. Then Alisson sighsed. "I am not sure you are aware of the current situation. As you know, most Royalists and former palace attendants were slaughtered. Tarkin is running things under a tight grip and it is unsafe to be in Arcadia as Storm Troopers patrol the whole area. On the outer planet the blockade maintains although now more soft in a certain way." Alisson crossed her arms. "Also in the New Plouton region, it seems that there is a territorial dispute. Three crimleords, at least, are trying to control the region and one is a Hutt. Other than that, commerce is running more or less due to the difficulty in exporting goods to other planetary systems..."

The Jedi woman then looked at the High Princess as if waiting for a reaction or a response. She wanted for Kalaira to intervene. She was the rightful ruler of Chimaeria and not Admiral Tarkin. She wanted to see that she was once more ahead of the government and run things for the welfare and well-being of the people.

"I am aware of all that and more. The problem is, I am outnumbered. We fell under the High Prince with full support. Now I am just another rebel." Kalaira sat down somewhat defeated.

Alisson frowned. She didn't like the situation but the High Princess was right. She was, after all, presumed dead and lost her strongest supporters, as they had been annihilated. "What if we do get some support from the Alliance? Perhaps I can contact them and see what can be done. Or maybe even get them to a meeting. I do have my Slave II vessel that could give you undetected passage..." she said.

"If you can set up a meeting and think you can get me off planet I will go. But Alisson, do not put much hope in it. I doubt the rebels care about this planet. We weren't as much help to them as we could have been when they needed it. The High Prince was determined to remain neutral and he paid for that with his life." Kaliara's eyes filled with tears and she swallowed hard.

Alisson watched Kalaira. She was still shaken up, she knew. It would be harder for her, she would assume. But she also knew the High Princess to be a fighter and not a quitter. "I can see what can be done. I am sure they will at least agree to a meeting and it was you who once told me 'better late than never', remember?!" Alisson embraced Kalaira. "Do not worry for better times are forth to come..." she whispered. "But we must not lose our posture and we must not quit. This was the greatest thing that I learned from you, by watching you. Courage and determination," Alisson said.

"I have not quit," Kalaira agreed. "But, as of yet, I am not sure my heart is in it," she confided.

"Then perhaps you should find yourself and your path before you take more steps..." Alisson advised. "It is important to find your inner-self before you seek anything else. I shall stay with you."

Kalaira sighed. "I don't know how to do that Alisson. but you are welcome to stay." Kalaira stood. "Come, I will introduce you to my commanders."